Isabella Fassler• Winter 2022
Winter is here and the very talented Isabella Fassler created the most magical set of artworks for our Winter 2022 Menu. Isabella uses a combination of traditional and digital media to create artwork that transcends genres. Her art style is a continuous evolution and attests to her versatility as an illustrator.
We visited Isabella in her Toronto home studio and it was instantaneously evident that her personality is as bright as her artwork. Read on to learn more about her journey so far.
Hi Isabella, tell us a bit about yourself and your art journey so far.
So, where do we start! I've been drawing since I was young. It’s really stuck with me even through all the changes in my life. It’s something that has always been there.
I didn't really start taking it seriously until 2012 where I thought maybe this is something that I could continue doing in my life.
My mom is Mexican and art is a big part of Mexican culture. My mom was always very supportive of me going into art, especially since it makes me happy. So with her support I was able to study at art school.
From there on, I was able to work on art for great clients, and it has been very fulfilling.
One client that I’m working with is the Canadian Opera Company as one of their visual artists for the Community Partnerships and Programs department. It’s been really great to see how art can bring you down different avenues.
What sparked your interest in illustration?
All it takes to create art is a pen and paper. Art is really exciting for me because you can take an idea and make something concrete out of it. Another great aspect is how you can create a connection with others through your art.
Creating illustrations is a lot of fun and you get a lot of freedom that you don’t necessarily find in other fields.
How would you describe your art style?
I would describe it as playful textures, bright and bold colours, and whimsical subjects.
How long did it take you to develop your current style?
I think my style is always evolving. I know that some artists really enjoy sticking with a specific style, but for me, I have found that it’s a continuous evolution from project to project.
Having a lot of traditional media around me is great since I can go from medium to medium. It also depends on the piece that I’m working on, the colours and mood will influence the type of medium I choose.
Right now, I find myself using a lot of pencil crayons with a mix of digital. Sometimes I would also throw some ink in there too.
Select artwork by Isabella
How would you describe your experience in art school?
Art school was a lot of fun. It was the first time that I was in a space that was entirely dedicated to art. I wanted to learn as much as possible, absorb from others, and take in all the other opinions. Rarely do you find yourself in a room with so many people in the same field who can offer their different perspectives.
I found the experience very fulfilling. My peers are my biggest inspiration - seeing how hard they work and how much they have evolved is very inspiring.
I also had a great professor - Rick Sealock - he opened up art and made it fun. For example, he’d ask “what if this turned upside down?”. Above all, he said to make sure that you are saying something with your art.
What are the important tools you use in your daily work?
I use my Prismacolor pencil crayons - this is central for me. I also use my Wacom tablet and computer.
Another key tool is a good scanner. I used to have an inferior scanner and it didn’t capture the details and texture of the art. So a good scanner is important when you are doing a mix of traditional and digital work.
Depending on the work I also reach for oils and acrylics. Those are more commonly used for personal commission work.
I have also been getting into wood burning! I use a heated wood burning pen and carve into different wooden objects.
Have you ever run into an artist’s block? If so, where do you turn to for inspiration?
Yes, of course! If there's an artist out there that has never run into an artist block like they would be something mighty! I constantly run into artist blocks and what I do is get out of my workspace. I try to go outside, spend time in nature as much as I can. Stepping outside and talking to people really helps. If I need to go even further, I would go to an art gallery to get more inspiration.
What's your dream client or project?
I would love to do as many different projects as I could. Maybe a CD cover or a poster for a musical or movie would be really cool. I’ve done a small mural and I would love to do a big mural one day. I would love to push my art into different avenues.
Who is your biggest inspiration or illustration idol?
There isn’t just one person that I would grab inspiration from or idolize.
I love a lot of animated films and movies. I love going to the theater and galleries and drawing inspiration from these different areas. I would also say that my peers I think are my biggest sources of inspiration. Seeing their evolution and being able to celebrate their success as well is just so inspiring to me.
Which of your artwork is your favourite so far?
I have two pieces that I really like. They struck a chord with me after they were finished. One was with pencil crayon, and the other was ink and digital.
This is my first piece that was mixed media and it just felt right. The art came together off the bat, no initial sketch or anything. I freehanded it and it just felt right.
For this second piece, I really liked that the colour and texture just came together. This piece was also very intuitive. I used oil pastels to create this work. A lot of layering on top, and taking it away. At point I was literally using my nails to get through the oil pastel!
Can you tell us more about your inspiration behind the 2022 Fall Menu art and what messages you wanted to convey?
I wanted to showcase the magicalness of winter. Winter may be the least favourite season of many Canadians but I wanted to showcase feelings that you only feel during winter that you don't get in any other season. I wanted to remind people of just how magical it can be and the coziness and colours that you get to experience in other seasons.
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing most in your spare time?
I’m a simple gal! I love to put on a movie and hang out with people I care about. Getting into nature kind of stepping away from being inside is really important. When I’m not working I try to get out of the house. Working does consume a lot of my time so making sure that I am spending enough time with people I care about is very important.
What's your ideal creative environment? Do you listen to anything in the background - music, podcasts, movies? Do you have favorites that you recommend?
I'm just big on listening to music. I can't listen to anything else because I get distracted really easily. So music is a big thing for me. I just turn it on as loud as I can to drown out everything else. I have curated about 90 different playlists and I listen to all types of genres and artists. It can be punk rock, pure pop, indie, musicals, instruments, and then country. I like my music to be all over the place.
If you can give a piece of advice to anyone new in the industry what would it be?
I would say to just get started. Put something on a piece of paper. Put it down and see where it takes in. Taking in as much inspiration as possible and let in other people’s advice.
Thank you Isabella for the great conversation and beautiful artwork!
Here’s our Winter 2022 menu cover
And the bill cards
